(a) whether continuous increase in population and shrinking of Himalayan glacier have led to drastic decline in per capita water availability in the country;
(a) if so, the details thereof and the concrete steps
taken/Proposed to be taken by the Government to increase
water resources and exploit them in each State; and
(b) the progress made in this regard so far?
THE MINISTER OF WATER RESOURCES ( SHRI ARJUN CHARAN SETHI)
(a) to (c) The average annual precipitation in the
country remains more or less fixed according to the natural
hydrologic cycle. Studies carried out by the Geological
Survey of India on Gangotri Glacier, over the last 60 years
or so have revealed that the glacier is receding gradually.
Based on a study of the climate for the last 1000 years,
they have concluded that in general glaciers keep on
fluctuating over a period of hundreds of years and the
process of recession may be reversed in due course of time
with favourable climatic conditions. The per capita average
annual water availability in the country is reducing
progressively owning to increasing population. The average
annual per capita water availability is estimated to be
about 1869 Cubic metre in 2000 AD at national level.
Water resources development including construction
of storages for utilization of water is taken up by the
State Government as per their own priorities. Upto 1995, a
live storage capacity of 177 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM) has
been created by construction of large dams in the country.
Besides, projects to add an additional storage capacity of
about 75 BCM are under construction and 132 BCM are under
planning. The replenishable ground water is of the order of
432 BCM, out of which about 154 BCM has been developed for
use. With the help of these storages and other minor
irrigation schemes an irrigation potential of 90 Million
hectare (Mha) has been created upto the end of the Eighth
Plan against the ultimate irrigation potential of 139.9 Mha
in the country.
As a long term measure, National Water Development
Agency of Government of India have formulated National
Perspective Plan for water resources development which
envisages interlinking between various peninsular rivers and
Himalayan rivers for transfer of water from surplus basins
to water deficit basins.
Government of India is also promoting rain water
harvesting through Watershed Management Programme,
artificial recharge of ground water and roof-top rain water
harvesting under the sector reform project of Accelerated
Rural Water Supply Programme under the Ministry of Rural
Development, for which technical and financial assistance is
provided to the state Government and other implementing
agencies. Central Ground Water Board has also taken up pilot
studies for artificial ground water recharge. Assistance is
also extended to State Governments under Command Area
Development Programme for bridging the gap between potential
created and utilized. For early completion of ongoing
irrigation projects Government of India is extending
assistance to state Governments under Accelerated Irrigation
Benefit Programme.